TK’s Special Briefing…. (700pm CT-Sun/22Jan2017)

by 
Austin / Travis County and South Central Texas Weather Update #3 - FINAL REPORT
Prepared by UT University/Incident Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
700pm CT - Sunday / 22 January 2017

Winds have decreased and the wind advisory has expired. As a result,
this is my final update.

tk

For the record, courtesy of the NWS/Austin-San Antonio, here are the peak wind 
reports over the last 24 hours for the IH35 Corridor Area and the Austin
metropolitan area...
     

...Bastrop County...
1 NW Camp Swift              39 MPH    0908 AM 01/22   30.20N/97.30W        

...Blanco County...
Blanco                       44 MPH    1100 AM 01/22   30.09N/98.42W        
3 WNW Twin Sisters           41 MPH    1015 AM 01/22   30.02N/98.46W         

...Burnet County...
8 SSW Bertram                47 MPH    1035 AM 01/22   30.63N/98.08W        
Burnet Municipal Kate Craddo 44 MPH    1238 PM 01/22   30.74N/98.24W        

...Caldwell County...
San Marcos Municipal Airport 49 MPH    0145 PM 01/22   29.89N/97.86W        

...Fayette County...
La Grange                    41 MPH    1115 AM 01/22   29.91N/96.95W        

...Guadalupe County...
New Braunfels Municipal Airp 52 MPH    1215 AM 01/22   29.70N/98.04W        

...Hays County...
4 WNW Mountain City          40 MPH    0948 AM 01/22   30.08N/97.96W        

...Lee County...
Giddings                     40 MPH    0115 PM 01/22   30.28N/96.98W        

...Travis County...
Bergstrom Intl Airport       50 MPH    0859 AM 01/22   30.18N/97.68W        
Rusty Allen Ap               48 MPH    0755 AM 01/22   30.50N/97.97W        
Austin Executive Airport     45 MPH    1255 PM 01/22   30.40N/97.57W        
Camp Mabry                   43 MPH    0820 AM 01/22   30.30N/97.70W        
2 W Tanglewood Forest        39 MPH    0318 PM 01/22   30.18N/97.87W         

...Williamson County...
Georgetown Municipal Airport 40 MPH    0750 AM 01/22   30.68N/97.68W        

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$

NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
IRIS System

Strong Wind Event Expected.. Prepare Now.. (615pm CT-Sat/21Jan2017

by

Austin / Travis County and South Central Texas Weather Update #2
Prepared by UT University/Incident Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
615pm CT – Saturday / 21 January 2017

.. Little Change in My Forecast Thought from Statement Yesterday …

.. Vigorous Upper Level Low Pressure Storm System Approaching …
.. As the Upper Level Disturbance Passes, a Surface Cold Front Will Move
Through Our Area with Strong Northwesterly Winds Developing …

NWS / Austin-San Antonio Upgrading Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning …
NWS / Austin-San Antonio Issues Wind Advisory …
Strong Gradient (Non-Thunderstorm) Wind Event for Tonight into Sunday …
Make Preparations Now …

As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, a pretty chaotic mid and high level cloud pattern
(including virga – precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground largely) and
even a few sprinkles here on the ground have been present over the past few hours
over the IH35 corridor. This is indicative – in fact, a textbook case – of a strong
and dynamic upper level low pressure storm system and current cold front that is
approaching us from the west on this Saturday evening. Because of the lack of surface
moisture, we’re seeing little in the way of lower clouds and precipitation from this
system.

Even so, I expect we’ll continue to see a few sprinkles here at the ground with, given
the dynamic nature of the system, even the possibility of a few lightning strikes over
the next few hours.

By later tonight, as the system passes overhead, the skies will clear and the atmospheric
pressure gradient will tighten considerably with a strong northwesterly surface wind
developing area wide. When this occurs, which I expect we’ll see in the evening
hours, northwest surface winds of 18 to 28 mph will develop with some wind
gusts to 35 to 40 mph.

By daybreak tomorrow, sustained northwesterly winds of 25 to 35 mph will be common
with some gusts as high as 45 to 50 mph possible.

Winds should slowly diminish by afternoon tomorrow.

In short, make preparations now. Secure loose objects that may be easily blown about
such as garbage cans, lawn furniture, etc. It is also reasonable to expect that with the
strong winds that there may be some power outages in some areas.

In addition, please be aware of the wildfire threat (as indicated by the NWS / Red Flag Warning).
Vegetation. which is dormant due to the season and the hard freezes we’ve seen this winter,
has dried out since our rains earlier in the week and wildfires will be easily spread by the
strong northwesterly wind.

I’ll continue to keep you informed.. tk

tk